Graupner includes two
sets of color-keyed, high-performance C-Propellers
with the Alpha 250Q.

The Alpha includes a top deck-mounted,
isolated camera-mounting platform. The
Mobius camera fits it perfectly.

The GR- 18 receiver
can be used to control
several types of
multirotor aircraft,
including quad X, quad
+, hexa V, hexa I, tri L,
and tri R configurations.
With a quick update to
the receiver’s firmware,
a pilot can also use the
GR- 18 in flybarless helis
and even in a fixed-wing
aircraft if he or she wants
to experiment with three-axis gyro stabilization.

The GR- 18 is a powerhouse of a
receiver! Graupner advises that all
tuning can be done by accessing the GR-
18 setup using the included transmitter.

The controlling factor of the Alpha

250Q is Graupner’s MZ- 12 six-channel

2. 4 GHz Ho TT transmitter. I was
amazed with the capabilities of the
“entry-level” transmitter. Although
ready-to-fly products often include
a feature-starved, stripped-down
transmitter, the MZ- 12 is powerful
and telemetry-capable. A blue, 28 x 64
backlit LCD display is flanked by four-way directional data-entry keypads.

Graupner radio systems use a
proprietary bidirectional frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)
protocol known as Ho TT (hopping
telemetry transmission). This system
automatically scans and selects from 75
possible 2. 4 GHz channels. The radio
system was preprogrammed and ready
to fly right out of the box, but paper
manuals cover the various features and
programming of the MZ- 12 transmitter.

The transmitter’s LCD display is
capable of displaying a wealth of real-time telemetry data, but pilots wearing
an FPV headset and focused on racing
will be unable to visually assimilate
critical in-flight data.

The MZ- 12 conveniently includes the
ability to annunciate telemetry data and
critical transmitter alerts and warnings
via a combination of tones and spoken
voice. Pilots will need a pair of earbuds
in order to utilize the voice feature
because the MZ- 12 does not include a
built-in audio amplifier and speaker.

Flying

The MZ- 12 transmitter comes with
several preconfigured switches. A two-position toggle switch allows the pilot
to shift between the two available flight
modes: Attitude and Rate modes. The
former mode is the tamer of the two
and offers a measure of bank limiting
in order to restrict pilots from flying
the 250Q too aggressively. I sent the
Alpha on its maiden flight in this mode.

Rate mode offers no bank limiting and
allows pilots to perform more extreme
maneuvers, including flips and rolls.

Multirotor pilots are often accustomed
to flight controllers that require them
to arm the power system using some
combination of transmitter stick
movements. The Graupner system does
not use this method, but instead offers
only a preconfigured throttle-hold
function.

After the throttle hold has been
released, the four motors are armed
and live. They will spin up as soon as
a pilot begins to advance the throttle
stick. Because flight controllers that I
have flown require a more complex
and deliberate motor-arming procedure,
I suggest you exercise caution in case
you forget this subtle deviation on
Graupner’s part.

Although the Alpha flight controller is
not equipped with GPS functionality, I
was impressed with its in-flight stability
when hovering. I carved some Figure
Eights and tight circles and the Alpha
felt crisp and connected. It is possible to
execute more aggressive maneuvers and
build a little speed in Attitude mode,
but the bank limiting restricts a pilot
from overcontrolling the quadcopter and
getting into trouble. A newer multirotor
pilot should have few problems flying
the Alpha in Attitude mode.

In Rate mode, the quadcopter really
comes alive. With the bank restrictions
removed, the Graupner brushless
power system is free to strut its stuff. I
found full throttle vertical punch-outs
impressive, and the Graupner flight
controller exhibited good control and
stability during the ensuing low-throttle
descent.

Pilots who are adept at performing
aerobatics with their quads will enjoy
the power and agility of the Alpha
250Q when flown in Rate mode. When
flying in line-of-sight (LOS) mode, the
two LED light bumpers offer excellent
orientation-enhancing cues.

I had the Alpha out early one morning
on a particularly gray, overcast day and
was confidently roaring about the dark
skies at the same speeds and distances
that I had flown on clear days, thanks to
the bright red and white LED bumpers.

The bumpers also ensure that your
opponents can clearly see you cross the
finish line
ahead of
them!

With a
couple of
LOS flights
in the books,
I mounted
and activated
an onboard
camera
and video
transmitter,
plugged
my iPhone